Why Did Bob Marley Smoke Marijuana/Cannabis?

Concord Times (Freetown)

Hindowa E. Saidu

13 May 2011

analysis

Freetown — Bob Marley advocated the use of marijuana/cannabis by Rasta as a religious sacrament. It was certainly not to provide inspiration for millions of youths after his death.

Marley would have appreciated the worldwide respect that his music still gathers, and would be happy to know that his massages of peace, pacifism and social justice still continue to ring out, but I can’t quite bring myself to think that he would have approved of all the gratuitous and casual usage of marijuana in his honour that happens especially on May 11 all over the world today. Mostly by non-Rasta and most times by youths trying to rationalize their illegal behaviours by a half hearted adherence to just one or two tenets of the Rasta religion forgetting the fact that marijuana/cannabis is a very dangerous gateway drug.

Cannabis, alcohol and tobacco are all gateway drugs. Weekly cannabis or marijuana users are 60 times more likely to progress to harder drugs.

New research now suggests that cannabis can prime the brain for use of other drugs.

Relaxing the Law

Holland turned a blind eye to cannabis in 1987 and is now the crime capital of Europe. The county is awash with dealers and a major producer of drugs, especially ecstasy. Health and social problems have escalated and the amount allowed for personal possession has been reduced from 30g to 5g. The present Dutch government wants to close all the coffee shops, many have gone. Health wise, marijuana or cannabis affects concentration, learning and memory are all badly affected, school grades fall, and some students miss out on university places. A cannabis personality develops, users become inflexible, can’t play their day properly, can’t take criticism and they struggle to express themselves. Most times cannabis users feel lonely, miserable and misunderstood. Apathy, a motivation and dropping out of schools and colleges are all common symptoms of cannabis. Few children, using cannabis even occasionally will achieve their full potential. Research has also

proved that cannabis causes far more mental illness than drugs like heroin. The smoke from cannabis contains more cancer producing substances than tobacco and they deposit 3 times as much tar in the lungs and airways. Cases of lungs cancer, bronchitis and emphysema have also been reported. Head and neck cancers now found in young cannabis users, have an average of 64 in tobacco smokers.

Cannabis damages the immune system and fewer white blood cells are produced and because people cannot fight off infections they are vulnerable to diseases, their illness is more severe and they stay sick longer. Sperm production is decreased and infertility and even impotence have been reported in cannabis users.

Babies born to cannabis smoking mothers are smaller, hyperactive, have behavioral and learning problems and are ten times more likely to develop leukemia.

Blood pressure and heart rates rise to the level of real stress and heart attacks have been reported in most cannabis users. Most teenagers are hit by stroke and die after beginning on cannabis.

Cannabis is safe?

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